High pressure cavitation chamber with dual internal reflectors

Abstract

A cavitation chamber separated into three volumes by a pair of gas-tight and liquid-tight seals, each seal formed by the combination of a rigid acoustic reflector and a flexible member, is provided. During chamber operation, only one of the three volumes contains cavitation fluid, the other two chamber volumes remaining devoid of cavitation fluid. The cavitation system also includes a cavitation fluid reservoir coupled to the cavitation chamber by a conduit, a valve allowing the cavitation chamber to be isolated from the cavitation fluid reservoir. A second conduit couples the two unfilled chamber volumes to a region above the liquid free surface within the cavitation fluid reservoir. A second valve allows the two unfilled chamber volumes to either be coupled to the cavitation fluid reservoir by the second conduit, or be coupled to a third conduit, the third conduit leading either to the ambient atmosphere or to a high pressure gas source. The cavitation system also includes at least one acoustic driver.

1. A cavitation system, comprising:
 a cavitation chamber; 
 a cavitation fluid reservoir coupled to said cavitation chamber via a first conduit; 
 means for forming a first gas-tight and liquid-tight separation between a first chamber volume and a second chamber volume within said cavitation chamber, wherein during cavitation system operation a cavitation fluid is contained within said second chamber volume and said first chamber volume is devoid of said cavitation fluid, and wherein said first separation forming means further comprises a first rigid reflector and a first flexible member coupling the first rigid reflector to an inside surface of said cavitation chamber; 
 means for forming a second gas-tight and liquid-tight separation between said second chamber volume and a third chamber volume within said cavitation chamber, wherein during cavitation system operation said third chamber volume is devoid of said cavitation fluid, and wherein said second separation forming means further comprises a second rigid; reflector and a second flexible member coupling the second rigid reflector to said inside surface of said cavitation chamber; 
 a second conduit coupling said first chamber volume to said third chamber volume and to a region within said cavitation fluid reservoir, wherein said region is located above a liquid free surface within said cavitation fluid reservoir; and 
 at least one acoustic driver coupled to said cavitation chamber. 
 
     
     
       2. The cavitation system of  claim 1 , further comprising an in-line valve within said first conduit. 
     
     
       3. The cavitation system of  claim 1 , further comprising an in-line valve within said second conduit, wherein said in-line valve has at least a first position and a second position, wherein said in-line valve in said first position couples said first and third chamber volumes to said region within said cavitation fluid reservoir, and wherein said in-line valve in said second position couples said first and third chamber volumes to a third conduit. 
     
     
       4. The cavitation system of  claim 3 , wherein said third conduit is coupled to ambient air. 
     
     
       5. The cavitation system of  claim 3 , further comprising a gas source, wherein said third conduit is coupled to said gas source. 
     
     
       6. The cavitation system of  claim 5 , wherein said gas source is a high pressure gas source. 
     
     
       7. The cavitation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a degassing system coupled to said cavitation fluid reservoir. 
     
     
       8. The cavitation system of  claim 7 , said degassing system comprising a vacuum pump. 
     
     
       9. The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said first flexible member is comprised of an adhesive sealant. 
     
     
       10. The cavitation system of  claim 9 , wherein said adhesive sealant is a silicon adhesive sealant. 
     
     
       11. The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second flexible members are comprised of an adhesive sealant. 
     
     
       12. The cavitation system of  claim 11 , wherein said adhesive sealant is a silicon adhesive sealant. 
     
     
       13. The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said first flexible member is comprised of an elastomeric member. 
     
     
       14. The cavitation system of  claim 13 , wherein said first flexible member further comprises a first bond joint between said elastomeric member and said first rigid reflector and a second bond joint between said elastomeric member and said inside surface of said cavitation chamber. 
     
     
       15. The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said first flexible member is comprised of a first elastomeric member, and wherein said second flexible member is comprised of a second elastomeric member. 
     
     
       16. The cavitation system of  claim 15 , wherein said first flexible member further comprises a first bond joint between said first elastomeric member and said first rigid reflector and a second bond joint between said first elastomeric member and said inside surface of said cavitation chamber, and wherein said second flexible member further comprises a third bond joint between said second elastomeric member and said second rigid reflector and a fourth bond joint between said second elastomeric member and said inside surface of said cavitation chamber. 
     
     
       17. The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said first rigid reflector further comprises a first reflector member and a second reflector member, and wherein a portion of said first flexible member is captured between said first and second reflector members. 
     
     
       18. The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said first rigid reflector further comprises a first reflector member and a second reflector member, wherein a portion of said first flexible member is captured between said first and second reflector members, wherein said second rigid reflector further comprises a third reflector member and a fourth reflector member, and wherein a portion of said second flexible member is captured between said third and fourth reflector members. 
     
     
       19. The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said first rigid reflector is hollow. 
     
     
       20. The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second rigid reflectors are hollow. 
     
     
       21. The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said first rigid reflector is comprised of a glass material. 
     
     
       22. The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second rigid reflectors are comprised of a glass material. 
     
     
       23. The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said first rigid reflector is comprised of a metal. 
     
     
       24. The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second rigid reflectors are comprised of a metal. 
     
     
       25. The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one acoustic driver further comprises at least one ring-shaped piezoelectric transducer coupled to an exterior surface of said cavitation chamber. 
     
     
       26. The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one acoustic driver further comprises a first ring-shaped piezoelectric transducer coupled to a first portion of an exterior surface of said cavitation chamber and a second ring-shaped piezoelectric transducer coupled to a second portion of said exterior surface of said cavitation chamber. 
     
     
       27. The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said cavitation chamber is a cylindrically-shaped chamber.